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Marty Brisebois

Marty Brisebois

Why did you come to Bowdoin College?
Bowdoin was an obvious choice for me from the very beginning of my senior year of high school. Coach Terrance Meagher was a big part of this process. His welcoming ways, along with the guidance of a few hockey veterans made my decision easier. The various faculty members I met and classes I attended immediately satisfied my preference for small classroom settings, and my scientifically oriented ambition. Everyone I have ever talked to about Bowdoin has had nothing but the greatest things to say about this place. That helped as well.

Why did you decide on your major?
I really thought pre-med was going to be my thing; so naturally, Chemistry or Biology represented leading candidates for the Major. Little did I know that Economics would turn out to be a “better fit” for me in the end. I guess finance is really what interests me the most, but I must say that taking a class with Professor Gregory DeCoster (Macroeconomics 256) turned out to be quite useful in understanding the link between applied economics and the financial system.

What's the best class you've ever taken at Bowdoin? Macro 256 has been, without a doubt, my favorite class. That semester, I think all seventy-five of us in that class benefited from an extensive “crash course” in finance. Though some avid fans of economic theory may have been deceived or even disappointed by the contents of the first half of the semester, I thoroughly enjoyed sitting through lectures which I felt were crucial to our understanding of economics in the U. S.

What extracurricular activities do you or have you participated in?
When I came to Bowdoin this year, I was involved in or scheduled to be involved in: Men’s Varsity Golf, Men’s Varsity Ice Hockey, Big Brother/Big Sister, YALP (Young Alumni Leadership Program), and Overnight Hosting (Admissions Office). (Of course, that's changed.) Since then, I have retired from a few activities and will be enjoying my newfound dose of free time, as well as Thanksgiving and Winter break, as do most Bowdoin non-athletes. Having been a part of the hockey team for three years, I take many memories and lessons from this experience. The friendships I made during those three winters will undoubtedly remain the most rewarding part of that commitment. There is just something really cool about competing for a common goal with a bunch of your friends. And how could I forget my Thursday nights — my Bowdoin experience would not be the same without the Bowling League…I have three trophies.

What's your strangest or funniest experience while at Bowdoin?
Last year I took a class that I will never forget: Introduction to Film Narrative 101. In the second week of class, the professor decided it would be a good idea to get everyone involved in class discussion. My friends and I were sitting in the back row of our huge auditorium classroom, and so, we represented obvious targets. He was calling on everyone to answer questions about various filming techniques. He got to my neighbor and posed a question which even I could not intelligently answer. Unfortunately, my friend couldn't either, and he answered incorrectly, and I knew the same question was coming my way. As soon as the professor began addressing me, I quickly cut him off and said: “I don’t know.” Again, my teacher spoke to me and this time I let him finish. Overtaken by my nervousness and embarrassment, I uttered the same response. This time, the whole class exploded in laughter. Fearing that they were making fun of me for my cinematic incompetence, I was only more ashamed to later discover that my teacher simply was asking for my name.

What are your plans for after graduation?
I hope to find a job in Finance, doing something that either will make me feel really smart, or something that will make me feel ignorant, and from which I will learn a great deal of important things.

Is there anything else about Bowdoin or your experiences here that you would want prospective students to know?
Bowdoin is a great place to try new things. Some people come here as first years with an idea of what they want to do after graduation, only to leave four years later with no clue. Your experience here is not measured, in my humble opinion, by the first job you get, or your cumulative GPA, but rather the friendships and personal discoveries you have made along the way (real deep, I know).